By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason
PROVINCETOWN, Massachusetts/REHOBOTH BEACH, Delaware (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressed the case for the re-election of President Joe Biden at a fundraiser in Massachusetts on Saturday regardless of continued stress from fellow Democrats and big-money donors looking for an finish to his bruised marketing campaign.
“We are going to win this election,” Harris mentioned. “It’s not going to be easy but we are a group of people that understand anything worthwhile takes hard work.”
Whereas she alluded to the turmoil that has engulfed Biden’s candidacy since a poor debate efficiency final month, Harris didn’t confer with requires Biden to drop out of the 2024 race.
The fundraiser drew 1,000 folks and raised greater than $2 million, in keeping with its host, superstar wedding ceremony planner Bryan Rafanelli. Celebrities and singers together with Jennifer Coolidge, Billy Porter and Darren Criss have been set to attend.
Biden and prime aides on Friday vowed to proceed together with his presidential marketing campaign towards Republican candidate Donald Trump, at the same time as main donors signaled they have been unwilling to open their checkbooks except the 81-year-old president steps apart.
The disaster of confidence in Biden’s skill to win the Nov. 5 election has positioned an enormous highlight on Harris, broadly believed to be the most definitely substitute if he steps down.
Harris fundraising occasions have been getting added curiosity from donors who need to sign they’re keen to coalesce round her potential bid for the White Home, in keeping with three Democratic fundraisers.
On Saturday in Provincetown, Harris denounced the extremism and intolerance that she mentioned marked Trump’s imaginative and prescient for America.
“Right now in our country those freedoms are under full-on attack,” she mentioned. “White supremacists have showed up at pride festivals armed with assault weapons. … We see extremists fan the flames of hate and homophobia for political gain.”
“Go get him Kamala!” an individual shouted, drawing a wave of cheers.
As hypothesis has grown that Harris would possibly quickly exchange Biden because the Democratic Social gathering’s candidate, she has supplied her full help for him staying within the race.
“He’s fighting for the American people,” she mentioned on Saturday.
Thirty-five congressional Democrats, representing greater than 10% of the celebration’s members in Congress, have now publicly referred to as on Biden, who’s isolating at his Delaware dwelling with COVID-19, to drop out following the June 27 debate towards Trump.
The controversy raised severe considerations contained in the celebration over Biden’s skill to win the election or perform his duties for one more 4 years.
Biden’s physician mentioned on Saturday the president nonetheless has delicate COVID-19 signs however is enhancing steadily.
Biden’s marketing campaign hoped to boost some $50 million in big-dollar donations in July for the Biden Victory Fund however was on observe for lower than half that determine as of Friday, in keeping with two sources conversant in the fundraising efforts.
The marketing campaign referred to as stories of a July fundraising stoop overstated, noting that it anticipated a drop-off in massive donations because of holidays. It mentioned the marketing campaign nonetheless has 10 fundraisers on the schedule this month.
